Saskatchewan agriculture minister Bob Bjornerud says he will raise concerns about changes at Agriculture Canada’s Agroforestry Development Centre when he meets with his federal and provincial counterparts tomorrow.
The Indian Head tree nursery, formerly known as the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration’s Shelterbelt Centre, has supplied millions of trees to prairie farmers since its inception in 1901. About 30 jobs will be lost there as part of federal budget cuts.
Bjornerud said there is still a need for trees, although he couldn’t say whether they should be free or not.
Flooding over the past two years has destroyed a lot of trees and old shelterbelts need renewal.
He said he would tell federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz that the service provided by the centre is still important and necessary.
“We would really like to see the transfer to the private sector, if that’s what minister Ritz is doing, is done well and that service is provided,” he told reporters.
